“Once, I told you I was afraid of my father and for a moment,
I looked so human the audience lost interest.”
Congratulations to Olivia on topping 250,000 views on this excellent poem. Check out more of Olivia’s work in her brand new book, NEW AMERICAN BEST FRIEND.
And while you’re here, make sure to check out our other books and merch as well, including our awesome t-shirts and poster and new books by Jacqui Germain, Hanif Abdurraqib, and Aaron Coleman!
“Too often I don’t tell people, people I love,
I am sad. Because I don’t think that’s something they
want to hear, because they love me.”
Don’t miss this week’s Best of Button playlist, featuring the top-viewed recent videos on the Button YouTube Channel. Today’s additions: Hieu Minh Nguyen & Mojdeh Stoakley. Congratulations poets!
While you’re here on our site, make sure to check out our books and merchandise in the Button Store, including books by Aziza Barnes, Danez Smith, Neil Hilborn and our NEW book from Aaron Coleman!
Performing at Button Poetry Live.
“America, I didn’t wanna have to do this, but you
left me with no other options.”
Don’t miss this fantastic performance by Joseph Capehart, performing at Button Poetry Live, December 2016. If you’re in the Twin Cities, don’t miss the next Button Poetry Live show, first Monday of every month in downtown Saint Paul.
While you’re here, head over to the Button store to check out all our books and merch, including books by Neil Hilborn, Danez Smith, Hanif Abdurraqib, Jacqui Germain, Sam Sax & more.
Performing at Button Poetry Live.
“I wasn’t born into the wrong body, I was born into the right lesson; on taking back what’s yours and giving it a new name.”
Don’t miss this fantastic poem by Sam Rush, featuring at Button Poetry Live, December 2016. If you’re in the Twin Cities, don’t miss the next Button Poetry Live show, first Monday of every month in downtown Saint Paul.
While you’re here, head over to the Button store to check out all our books and merch, including books by Neil Hilborn, Danez Smith, Hanif Abdurraqib, Jacqui Germain, Sam Sax & more.
Button Poetry Chapbook Contest Semifinalists
Exciting news! We’ll be announcing the finalists for the chapbook contest next week. For now, we’d like to recognize our semifinalists. We were very impressed by these manuscripts, and we wish we could’ve passed them on to the final round.
Nic Alea, SUMMER IN THE HOUSE OF ICHTHYO
Jackson Burgess, HOLY SMOKES
Elizabeth Catanese, RULES FOR SWIMMING
Amara Chaudhry, A SILENT EMANCIPATION
Ethan Chua, THERE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN STORMS
Keno Evol, SO PLEASE NO POETS IN THE CHURCH
Hazem Fahmy, RED//JILD//PRAYER
Megan Foley, DEIXIS
Mo Fowler, RAISED TO BE SAVED
Geula Geurts, ALL THE GLORY OF THE KING’S DAUGHTER
Darla Himeles, FLESH ENOUGH
Khary Jackson, WANION
Perry Janes, THE ONLY HOME
LynleyShimat Lys, APPROPRIATE CITIES OF ORIGIN
Chrissy Montelli, HEART FLOAT
Jae Nichelle, LETTERS FROM MY DEMONS TO COMFORT ME
Jason Rusch, PROBLEMATIC QUEER LOVE
Sea Sharp, NEGROX
Andrea Vaughan, MAYBE & MEMORY
Junious Ward, BOY;LOUD
“I still may not do things a boy does. Instead,
I do things a person does.”
Congratulations to Alex on topping 500,000 views on this great poem. Check out more from Alex here and here.
And while you’re here, make sure to check out our other books and merch as well, including our awesome t-shirts and poster and new books by Jacqui Germain, Hanif Abdurraqib, and Aaron Coleman!
Performing at Inside Voices
“My body is an asteroid destroyed even when it’s speeding
away from the the earth.”
Don’t miss this excellent poem from Danez Smith, featuring at Inside Voices in Minneapolis. Check out Danez’s book here. And if you’re in the Twin Cities, don’t miss the next Button Poetry Live show, first Monday of every month in downtown Saint Paul.
While you’re here, head over to the Button store to check out our books and merch, including books by Neil Hilborn, Hanif Abdurraqib, Jacqui Germain, Sam Sax & more.
“In my defense he said, “Would you” which I took at the time
to be a hypothetical. Would I do it, like, if the situation arose,
if I were called upon, like, for my country?”
Congratulations to Thadra on topping 100,000 views on this hilarious poem. Check out more from Thadra here and here.
And while you’re here, make sure to check out our other books and merch as well, including our awesome t-shirts and poster and new books by Jacqui Germain, Hanif Abdurraqib, and Aaron Coleman!
Performing at Southern Fried 2016.
“We can’t pretend that weapons will protect us from the people
we convince ourselves we can trust.”
Don’t miss this amazing poem from Amanda Pressman, performing at the 2016 Southern Fried Poetry Slam in Greensboro, NC. Support Button on Patreon so we can continue to broadcast these amazing poets!
While you’re here, head over to the Button store to check out our books and merch, including Button t-shirts in both female and unisex cuts, and books and more by many of your favorite Button artists.
Performing at Button Poetry Live.
“Money will not save us. Imitation will not save us.
Our silence will not save us.”
Don’t miss this incredible poem by Kevin Yang, performing at Button Poetry Live, December 2016. If you’re in the Twin Cities, don’t miss the next Button Poetry Live show, first Monday of every month in downtown Saint Paul.
While you’re here, head over to the Button store to check out all our books and merch, including books by Neil Hilborn, Danez Smith, Hanif Abdurraqib, Jacqui Germain, Sam Sax & more.